Exercising apparatus



Dec. 23, 1952 w. T. MooNEY 2,622,878

EXERCISING APPARATUS Filed April 16, 1946 Patented Dec. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an exercising apparatus and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this kind including a body upon which a person may mount and wherein the body is supported in a manner to permit the same to readily swing up and down.

It is also an object of the invention lto provide an apparatus of this kind including a body adapted to be mounted by a person and wherein the body is supported in a manner to normally maintain the same in a predetermined position yet permitting the same to have substantially universal movement within certain limitations.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind including a l body in simulation of an equine or other animal and wherein said body is supported in a manner to permit the person straddling the body to be subjected to substantially the same action when riding a live animal.

The invention consists in the details of con struction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved exercising apparatus whereby certain important advantages are attained, as will be hereinafter 1 more fully set forth.

In order that my invention may be better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in side elevation of an exercising apparatus constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention, certain positions of the body being indicated by broken lines;

Figure 2 is a view in top plan of the apparatus as illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Figure l; and

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view partly in top plan and partly in section illustrating the operative connection of a retractile member with the body and a corner post of the supporting structure.

In the embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying drawings, the apparatus comprises a supporting structure comprising two substantially duplicate members A. Each of these members A comprises an elongated element, preferably a tubular bar of desired dimensions, and which is in the general form of a flattened V, with the arms I of the member inclined inwardly and upwardly toward the apex portion 2 of the member which is substantially straight for a relatively short distance. This straight portion 2 may be termed as constituting a bar connecting the inner extremities of the arms I of the member A.

The outer or lower ends of the arms I are continued by the upwardly directed elongated posts 3 of predetermined dimensions and, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 1, the adjacent extremities of an arm I and a post 3 are connected by an arcuate portion li, herein disclosed as being integral with said arm I and post 3.

In the assembly of the apparatus, the straight apex portions or bars 2 of the members A are in close proximity to each other and each of said portions or bars 2 is partially received within a groove 5 provided in a side edge face of a block ii of a lengthvpreferably substantially equal to the length of each of such apex portions or bars 2. Contacting with the outer faces of such portions or bars 2 are the holding or clamping strips l, each 0i which is provided in its inner face with a groove 8 in which is partially received the outer side of an apex-portion or bar 2.

Freely insertible through the strips 1, the portions or bars 2 and the block 6 are the bolts 9 each of which has a head I0 contacting with the outer face of one of the strips 'I and the opposite end portion of the bolt 9 has threaded thereon a holding nut II coacting with the outer face of the second strip l. The bolts 9 are preferably disposed through the strips 'I and the block 6 adjacent the ends thereof and the angle of the arms I of the assembled members A is such as to maintain the block 6 and strips 7 out of contact with the oor or kindred surface upon which the apparatus may be placed. The outer end portions of the arms I have direct supporting contact with such :door or surface.

It is also Ito be pointed out that the corresponding arms I of the assembled sections A are in such divergence as to assure the supporting structure effectively maintaining its position when the apparatus is in use.

.Surrounding the upper portion of each of the posts 3 is a split collar I2 having its extremities continued by the inwardly directed straps or ears I4 with which coact in a well known manner the clamping bolts I5. The outermost bolt I5 is disposed through an eye I6 carried by the outer extremity of a shank II comprised in the turnbuckle T. The second shank I3 of the turnbuckle T is provided at its outer extremity with an eye member I9 through which is engaged, as at 23, an end portion of a retractile member 2l of desired tension and which is herein disclosed as a coil spring.

The opposite end portion of this member or spring 2l is operatively engaged, as at 22, through an eye member 23 carried by a side of a body B and an end portion thereof. The eye member 23y as illustrated in Figure 4, is carried by a shank 24 screwing or threading into said body B.

The body B, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, is in simulation of a galloping horse and is provided on its top with a seat 25 in simulation of a saddle and which is adapted to be occupied by the person using the apparatus. The forward end or head extremity of `the body B has operatively engaged therewith a exible loop 26 in imitation of the conventional reins used when horesback riding.

As is clearly illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, the body B is normally maintained centrally of the posts 3 and in a substantially horizontal position under the action of the springs 2|. The tension of each of said springs can be regulated as desired upon proper manipulation of the turnbuckle T.

In practice, the apparatus is to be of such a size that the person occupying the seat 25 on the body B can place each yof his or her feet within a stirrup 21 so that as .the body B vibrates in substantially all directions .but rmore particularly up and down, the occupant of the seat 25 will have the benefit of such movements.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that an exercising apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it :may be assembled and operated.

I claim:

l. In an exercising apparatus, a stand formed of four L-shaped elements each having a portion vertically disposed and located at the corners of an imaginary rectangular prism and having other portions at the lower ends of the vertical portions and converging horizontally inward toward the center of the rectangle, a flat member connecting the adjacent ends of said other portions, said other portions and said flat member constituting the base of the stand, a seat, and resilient elements extending between said seat and the upper ends of said vertically disposed portions to suspend the seat for bouncing motions imparted thereto by its occupant.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, with the said at member constituted in a rectangular block having opposite side edges provided with longitudinal grooves to receive the adjacent ends of the said other portions of the L-shaped elements therein, clamping strips each having a groove in a side edge thereof, said strips receiving in the grooves thereof the outer sides of the said adjacent ends of said other portions at the side edges of the block, and bolts passing through said block, said adjacent ends of the other portions, and said clamping strips.

WILLIAM T. MOONEY.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 385,792 Crandall July 10, 1888 1,214,246 Welch Jan. 30, 1917 1,372,219 Dieckmann Mar. 22, 1921 1,468,993 Converse Sept. 25, 1923 1,950,042 Upper Mar. 6, 1934 2,020,811 Thomas Nov. 12, 1935 2,437,015 Baltz Mar. 2, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 28,372 Switzerland June 8, 1903 71,236 Sweden July 13, 1928 

